Speed control of brushless DC motor by DC-DC boost and buck converters using GaN and SiC transistors for implementing the electric vehicles

Significant improvements of the DC-DC converters create the straightforward method to control the speed of the DC motor. One of the important DC motors is the Brushless DC motor which is utilized in various electrical fields. This paper focuses on the control at different speeds for a Brushless DC motor. In order to make the proper voltage to run the motor, two DC-DC converters (Boost and Buck) are tested using two different switches (GaN and SiC transistors). After making the Simulink model and connecting to dSPACE to send the suitable pulse to the transistor of the converter, the DC motor starts working by applying the DC voltage to the converter. This process includes modeling in MATLAB Simulink, dSPACE, and an experimental setup to run the DC motor. Furthermore, the performance of GaN and SiC switches in Boost and Buck converters are compared to each other in this project in terms of output parameters, efficiency, and providing the accurate speed for DC motor

Utilizing Sequential Action Control Method in GaN-Based High-Speed Drive for BLDC Motor

This paper presents a hybrid model–based control algorithm that combines Model Predictive Control (MPC) and Sequential Action Control (SAC) deployed in a high-speed drive for Brushless DC (BLDC) motor by using a DC-DC converter with Gallium Nitride (GaN) switches. GaN FETs are selected because of their higher speed and lower power loss as compared with traditional Si switches. In the proposed framework, SAC processes the initial values of the control variables as well as their time of application and their duration in MPC loop. After receiving the underlying estimation of future contribution from SAC, MPC consolidates it with current input and predicts future control values by using the system state space model. This hybrid control conserves control effort and reduces sensitivity to initial conditions. In this way, converter’s output voltage is controlled to produce the reference speed at the motor output. National Instrument PXIe-6356 module is utilized as the interface between software and hardware that is a multi-function, LabVIEW-compatible data acquisition device. The viability of the proposed hybrid optimization for the high-speed drive is confirmed numerically by utilizing MATLAB/Simulink and approved experimentally using a Gallium Nitride (GaN) half-bridge DC-DC converter

Speed control of brushless DC motor by DC-DC boost and buck converters using GaN and SiC transistors for implementing the electric vehicles

Significant improvements of the DC-DC converters create the straightforward method to control the speed of the DC motor. One of the important DC motors is the Brushless DC motor which is utilized in various electrical fields. This paper focuses on the control at different speeds for a Brushless DC motor. In order to make the proper voltage to run the motor, two DC-DC converters (Boost and Buck) are tested using two different switches (GaN and SiC transistors). After making the Simulink model and connecting to dSPACE to send the suitable pulse to the transistor of the converter, the DC motor starts working by applying the DC voltage to the converter. This process includes modeling in MATLAB Simulink, dSPACE, and an experimental setup to run the DC motor. Furthermore, the performance of GaN and SiC switches in Boost and Buck converters are compared to each other in this project in terms of output parameters, efficiency, and providing the accurate speed for DC motor

Hacking Kuwaitscapes

by Alexandra Gomes, Sharifa Alshalfan, Asseel Al-Ragam & Tanushree AgarwalGames can be great tools for promoting learning and behaviour change through their ability to engage interest, motivate effort, encourage task persistence and problem-based learning opportunities. These types of games are known as ‘serious games’. One example is ‘Kuwaitscapes’, a card game created with the goal of raising awareness about the potential of Kuwait’s public space use and encouraging players to reflect on different user experiences. However, initial feedback from players revealed that the game fell short of this goal, as it was seen as more of a fun, competitive game rather than a tool for learning and reflection. This was important feedback provided by players from en.v, a women-led, culturally diverse and interdisciplinary organisation working in Kuwait

Using games for inclusive research and policy design – the case of Kuwaitscapes

Academic research is predominantly communicated via the written word in reports, research articles, social media and blogposts. Here, Alexandra Gomes, Tanushree Agarwal, Asseel Al-Ragam and Sharifa Alshalfan, describe the development of ‘Kuwaitscapes’ a card based game designed to communicate the findings of their research into sustainable development in Kuwait and as way of raising awareness of the policy choices available to make urban environments less car-dependent